Grand Falls Casino

Day 1a of the MSPT Grand Falls $1,110 Main Event is in the books, with the first flight tallying 112 runners. Plenty of players made their way to Grand Falls Casino, filling the room with MSPT Champs, GOATs, and Hall of Famers.

With chips flying and players dropping throughout the day, play tightened in the later levels as only 11% of the field found a Day 2 berth, and that mark hit with 30:27 remaining in Level 14 (3,000/5,000/5,000).

Once players put pens to slips, it was Rick Leonard, who ended up leading the pack of 13 with a whopping 623,000, edging out Kevin Berthelsen (507,000) for the top stack.

MSPT Hall of Famer Gerald Cunniff held his own throughout the day, finishing with 399,000, while James Girouard (384,000) and “Wild” Bill Romer (319,000) rounded out the top five stacks.

Others that advanced included Matt Sundberg (260,000), Dennis Stevermer (253,000), Daryl Oppelt (183,000), two-time MSPT Champ Mo Nuwwarah (124,000), and MSPT Champ Joe Matheson (62,000).

Among those to try and fall on Day 1a were Shanda Ramm, Heidi Roggenkamp, Jon Maras, Justin Heilman, and MSPT Hall of Famer DQ Dan Hendrickson, to name a few.

Those who didn't bag will have one more flight to try, with that held tomorrow on All Hallows' Eve, Saturday, October 31^st at 2:00 p.m. local time.

This is a best-stack forward event: If a player qualifies for Day 2 more than once, they may only play the higher chip stack; any lower stack(s) will be removed from play at the start of Day 2 and receive the lowest Day 2 payout.

Player of the Year points will only be awarded for the higher stack. Players will only receive credit for a single MSPT Main Event cash finish.

As usual, the live reporting team will be back at it then, so be sure to come back and see who else adds their name to Sunday's Day 2 roster.

MSPT Season 17 Grand Falls Remaining Schedule

Kevin Berthelsen raised from the hijack, and MSPT Hall of Famer Josh Reichard defended his big blind to see a flop.

Action was then checked to the turn, where Reichard check-jammed for 55,000 after Berthelsen fired out a bet and was called.

Josh Reichard:
Kevin Berthelsen:

Both players flopped top pair, but Reichard had kicker issues, and the river ended his night on the bubble.

Kevin Berthelsen - 507,000
Josh Reichard - 0

Playing Day a of the MSPT Season 17 $1,110 Main Event at Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort?

Have family or friends in action?

Click here to browse our Photo Gallery tab and see if you can find their photo, courtesy of the event photographer, Jess Beck.

Photo: Andre Brown

Andre Brown tossed out his 30,000 stack from under the gun and found action from two-time MSPT Champ Mo Nuwwarah from the small blind.

Andre Brown:
Mo Nuwwarah:

Brown was at risk needing help, and found some after the flop paired his king.

The turn then left Brown needing help on the river, but the completed the board and ended his night.

Mo Nuwwarah - 96,000
Andre Brown - 0

Level 13 has started, meaning registration for Day 1a of the MSPT Season 16 $1,110 Main Event at Grand Casino is officially closed.

The first starting flight tallied 112 runners, and the plan is to play until 11% of the field, rounded up (13 players), is reached, with the tournament clock reading 22 players remaining.

If the seeding ended today, here’s what the 2026 MSPT World Ranking Top 64 Heads Up Championship bracket would look like

: Running Aces Casino, Hotel & Racetrack - Columbus, MN

Rounds 1-2: Thursday, Dec. 3 @ 12pm

Rounds 3-4: Friday, Dec. 4 @ 12pm

Semis & Finals: Saturday, Dec. 5 @ 12pm

*No Alternates - opponent doesn’t show is a bye

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